Golden’s Farmers’ Market Bagel Stand (Sat & Sun mornings)

Golden's Famous Market Bagel Stand

"Any trip to the St. Paul Farmers’ Market must include a Market Favorite—a bagel loaded with a fried egg, two thick slices of ham, cheddar cheese and all the toppings you can cram on a sandwich. The eggs and many of the vegetables come from the market, and the picnic benches in the center of the block make a great people-watching spot."—Pioneer Press, August 2017

L-R: Myles, Will, and Berit Golden working Golden’s Summer Farmers’ Market Bagel Stand.[Golden’s bagel] cart’s origins go back more than 30 years. It was the 1980s, and owner Jim Golden and his brother had just graduated from the University of Minnesota and Augsburg, respectively. They decided to canoe from the Twin Cities down to New Orleans, and at a stop in Grafton, Ill., Golden says, “We saw this guy selling bagels outside a reggae bar. And he’d only work two hours a night.” For two recent graduates, this sounded like a great business plan, so they brought the model back to the campuses of the University of St. Thomas and Macalester College in 1984. It quickly gained a following. Golden brought the cart down to the farmers market by 1985 and says, “I haven’t really missed a Saturday since. It was a good fit, because our stuff is fresh,” he says. “We were doing the farmers market, farm-to-table back in the ’80s. And why wouldn’t you? —Saint Paul Magazine

Lowertown is the place to visit on weekend mornings between late April and November, when a bustling farmers’ market offers a dazzling array of local food and crafts that originate from within one hundred miles of Saint Paul. Farmers offer fresh vegetables and cut flowers; other local merchants sell artisan chocolates, salsas, cheeses, and meats from nearby farms. [Golden’s] pop-up bagel shop serves coffee and lemonade, and there’s often entertainment—music, storytelling, and magicians. —Saint Paul Almanac

Owner Jim Golden uses vegetables from the market when possible and locally raised eggs and ham from vendors who are “just across the aisle.” In the past few years, Golden has begun to offer brats and hot dogs from Prairie Pride Farm, which also supplies Golden’s ham. The brats — plump, juicy and perfectly spiced — pass muster with this Wisconsin native. Topped with a little sauerkraut and some spicy mustard, they are a great lunch if you manage to save enough room. Golden’s also serves a rich, strong cold-press coffee made with Cafe Palmira beans and the best lemonade in the Twin Cities — freshly squeezed, tart and not too sweet. —Saint Paul Pioneer Press

The fresh-squeezed lemonade is an air conditioner in a cup. —Minneapolis Star Tribune

Any trip to the St. Paul Farmers’ Market must include a Market Favorite — a bagel loaded with a fried egg, two thick slices of ham, cheddar cheese and all the toppings you can cram on a sandwich.The eggs and many of the vegetables come from the market, and the picnic benches in the center of the block make a great people-watching spot. —Saint Paul Pioneer Press

Everything bagel wrapped around cream cheese, smoked salmon, cheddar cheese, an egg, and tomato is a handy breakfast while perusing the nearby farmer’s market, exploring Lowertown, or for imparting serious morning breath with which to taunt your coworkers. —”Outstanding Egg Sandwiches in Minneapolis and St. Paul”, Minneapolis Eater